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T O P I C R E V I E W

gleopold

From a recent article by Ben Evans:

Gemini IV — the first mission to adopt a Roman-numeral form of designation — would include Jim McDivitt and Ed White for a seven-day test.

In other words, the first flight was designated Gemini 3, then Gemini IV, V, VI and so on.

Does anyone know if this in correct?

Headshot

I do not believe so. NASA was uncharacteristically inconsistent with flight designations during the Gemini Program.

There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to the designations used during the program. I have contemporary NASA documents that reference Gemini III, Gemini 8, etc. Even some documents for the same mission varied. A Fact Sheet from the MSC in Texas references Gemini VIII while a booklet from KSC in Florida discusses Gemini 8.

Even the mission patches designed by the crews are a mix. Gemini 6 used an Arabic "6" while Gemini 7 used a Roman Numeral "VII."

For my sanity I always use Roman Numerals for Gemini and Apollo missions and Arabic numbering for Mercury, Skylab, and Shuttle missions. There are many, however, who do not know how to read them.